Where India Sweats in Style: The Rise of Hi-End Gyms

Walk into D’Monde in Delhi or Fitness First in Mumbai and you realise gyms in India are no longer about treadmills and dumbbells. They’re about status, scale, and sanctuary. From cryotherapy chambers and Turkish hammams to aerial yoga sessions and workouts set to live DJs, India’s gyms are no longer just about weights and warm-ups—they’re reinventing fitness as a luxury lifestyle experience.

These high-end spaces are no longer playing catch-up with the West—they’re setting benchmarks in design, scale, and integration. As developers, luxury hotels, and boutique entrepreneurs double down on wellness, the country’s elite now have more ways than ever to sweat in style. As Natasha Narang describes her gym in a luxury Gurugram condominium- “It’s not just a gym—it feels like stepping into a world-class fitness arena. There’s a professional boxing ring, a rock-climbing wall, a Pilates studio, even a yoga room that opens onto a private sunken courtyard for aerial yoga and outdoor sessions. And the vibe? Pure industrial chic—raw concrete, white-washed bricks, and blackened steel, just like the elite studios in New York.”

According to TechSci Research, in 2023, the Indian gym industry recorded revenues of USD 1.15 billion. The market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 16.8% during 2024–2028, reaching approximately USD 2.5 billion by 2028. Although the current gym penetration rate in India remains relatively low at around 0.5%, the sector is well-positioned for rapid growth in the coming years. Rising health awareness, driven by growing concerns over lifestyle-related diseases linked to sedentary habits and rapid urbanization, is fuelling demand for accessible fitness solutions.

Flexing Luxury: Inside India’s Most Exclusive Gyms

Premium gyms thrive because they offer far more than just machines and treadmills—they deliver an entire lifestyle.

Hidden in Chanakyapuri, D’MONDE is invitation-only and feels more like a wellness sanctuary than a gym. Beyond high-tech machines, you’ll find cryotherapy pods, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, aerial yoga, Turkish hammams, red-light therapy, and even a nutrition-forward café. Says Akhil Mehta – Director Sales & Marketing – D’MONDE Members, “Membership is highly selective, making it as much about networking as it is about fitness.”

At 160,000 sq. ft., The Camellias Club, Gurugram is arguably India’s most extravagant residential club. Designed by international experts, its seven “energy zones” include a 70,000 sq. ft gym, rock climbing wall, boxing ring, vitality pools, salt room, juice bars, bowling alley, and spa. For residents of DLF’s marquee project, this isn’t just a gym—it’s a lifestyle ecosystem. The Lodhi’s gym represents the luxury-hotel approach to fitness: a well-equipped cardio and strength training floor, combined with steam, sauna, spa, and concierge service.

Take the case of RK Fitness in Delhi’s Dwarka and Paschim Vihar, where the gym goes beyond equipment and training. It houses a crèche for young parents and a health café for post-workout refuelling—turning fitness into a lifestyle hub rather than just a workout stop. Or consider One Million in Janakpuri, a gym that blends cutting-edge fitness with plush design. Spread across multiple levels, it offers top-end equipment, personal training studios, recovery lounges, and even luxe locker rooms that feel more like a five-star spa. Here, working out is as much about the ambience as the reps.

Spaces such as these are crafted with the help of architects, lighting specialists, and spa consultants, ensuring design and scale match the expectations of their clientele. The approach is holistic -fitness seamlessly blends with spa therapies, nutrition bars, and curated social spaces, creating an environment where wellness feels indulgent. In these rarefied spaces, it’s as much about who you work out next to as it is about the workout itself.

In Mumbai, gyms often double up as celebrity hangouts, blurring the lines between fitness and lifestyle. I Think Fitness in Bandra West is a favourite with Bollywood’s A-list—its sunlit interiors, boutique design, and organic café make it as much a social hub as a workout destination. Says Maira Malhotra, a 27-year-old branding consultant who frequents the Bandra gym, “At I Think Fitness, it’s impossible not to feel motivated. The place is buzzing with energy—celebs, athletes, even DJs spinning live during evening sessions. There’s functional training, reformer Pilates, rooftop yoga—it’s a social scene as much as it is a workout. Honestly, half the reason I come is because the crowd is as inspiring as the equipment.”

Not far behind is Nitrro Bespoke Fitness, with sprawling outlets in Breach Candy and Powai. Spread across 20,000 sq. ft, these gyms feature DJ zones, juice bars, and physiotherapy services. For those seeking an international touch, Fitness First, with branches across metros, brings a global polish to the Indian fitness landscape, offering yoga, nutrition coaching, and plush lounge areas at about Rs 65,000 annually.

Hyderabad has seen gyms charging as high as Rs 50,000/month for ultra-exclusive memberships. In Chennai, boutique setups such as Aviate Gym (Rs 50,000+ annually) and Primal Patterns (Rs 2 lakh+) are positioning personal training as couture fitness. Traditional members-only institutions like The Royal Willingdon Sports Club and Otters Club in Mumbai, or Delhi Gymkhana, continue to thrive. Here, fitness is woven into a larger lifestyle of golf, tennis, and squash—where lineage matters as much as lifestyle.

What Today’s Gym-Goer Wants

According to Dr. Richa Mishra, VP – Operations & Physiotherapist at Anytime Fitness India, today’s fitness consumer is “far more sophisticated than a decade ago.” People no longer seek just machines but a lifestyle solution—convenience, customization, and community. “Members want to pop in anytime, follow personalized programs, and feel part of a supportive culture,” she says. Anytime Fitness delivers this with 24×7 access, global membership, state-of-the-art equipment, and trainers who design individualized fitness plans.

Weight training is booming among those in their 40s and 50s. As muscle mass and bone density decline with age, strength training helps build resilience and improve posture, balance, and mobility. But Dr. Mishra cautions: “Weightlifting is a science. Middle-aged individuals, especially with conditions like diabetes or hypertension, should not experiment alone.” Professional trainers ensure correct form, safety, and sustainable progress.

At gyms like Anytime Fitness, milestones are measured, and success isn’t just about weight loss or bulging biceps. The gym uses 360-degree progress tracking—body composition analysis, strength and endurance tests, mobility checks, and lifestyle assessments. Dr. Mishra shares an example: “A member with low energy and high cholesterol could, within three months, go from struggling to walk 2 km to jogging 5 km with ease.” For diabetics, fitness often means stabilized blood sugar and more energy. “These are the milestones we celebrate—lasting transformations, not fleeting results.”

The use of AI is rampant at hi-end gyms. Artificial Intelligence has quietly moved from chatbots and cars to the gym floor, where the smartest trainers today may not be human but algorithms guiding workouts with precision. Leading this shift is Technogym, the Italian fitness giant founded in 1983 by Nerio Alessandri, which now powers 70 million users worldwide. Its new philosophy, “Healthness,” goes beyond muscles to preventive care, using AI to predict disease before it occurs. At the core is Technogym Checkup, an assessment station that measures everything from body composition to cognition, feeding data into the AI Coach to deliver tailored programs accessible anywhere. In India, immersive Technogym boutiques in Bengaluru and Delhi and partnerships with premium hotels signal the brand’s growing presence, where luxury meets science to turn fitness into a seamless, personalized health journey.

PRICE POINTS

In India, the cost of gym memberships varies widely depending on the type of facility and the services offered. Regular gyms typically charge between Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per month, making them accessible to a broader population. These gyms usually provide standard fitness equipment, basic group classes, and personal training at an additional cost. Consumers can expect functional spaces focused primarily on workouts without too many added amenities.

On the other hand, premium and luxury gyms come at a much higher price point, reflecting their upscale services and exclusive facilities. Membership fees for luxury gyms in India generally range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 per month, with some elite clubs even exceeding this range. These gyms provide not only advanced equipment but also holistic wellness experiences, such as spa services, nutrition counselling, personal trainers, and curated group classes like yoga, Pilates, and high-intensity training. Luxury fitness centers also emphasize ambiance, personalized attention, and premium amenities like swimming pools, saunas, cafes, and lounge areas, creating a complete lifestyle experience rather than just a workout space.